Abu Sabet: Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams didn't receive a warm welcome as he attended his successor's inauguration on New Year's Day.
To celebrate Zohran Mamdani's ascension as mayor, more than 4,000 people gathered outside the steps of City Hall. Livestreams were provided for free viewing in areas around the city. As many gathered around one of the screens showing the ceremony, Adams appeared briefly on camera and was met with audible boos from the crowd. Adams attended the inauguration with fellow former mayor Bill de Blasio.
Adams took the end of his single term in stride, saying at a news conference on Tuesday that his time in office had "been a blast," but added, "I’m looking forward to a single malt scotch and a cigar."
On New Year's Eve, Adams quietly slipped out of City Hall. Earlier in the week, he exchanged messages with Mamdani, who invited him to the inauguration. Adams said he would attend, but didn't want to be a distraction to the celebration. When asked about his plans after leaving City Hall, Adams said on Monday he wanted to write a book, go back to school, and "use cryptocurrency to go after violence, educate our children, and really deal with antisemitism that we’re seeing globally."
In his last hours in office, Adams announced the creation of another Charter Revision Commission, the third of his term, which would review whether New York City should have open primaries. The goal of the commission will "explore ways to create a more inclusive, democratic city government," Adams said in a statement. Critics called the move a "power grab." Grace Rauh, executive director of Citizens Union, a watchdog group, said Adams' decision "makes a mockery of our city’s constitution." She urged those who were appointed as commissioners not to serve.
Adams also vetoed 19 City Council bills on Wednesday, ranging from legislation that would grant more licenses for street vendors and another that would provide the Civilian Complaint Review Board access to all of the NYPD's body camera footage. In a final victory lap before handing the reins to Mamdani Adams, he announced the removal of 25,000 illegal guns from the streets since he took office in 2022. "I’m the only mayor that understood law enforcement, I’m the only one," Adams said on Monday.
"Our mission was clear on day one: get illegal guns off our streets and keep New Yorkers SAFE. We seized 25,000+ firearms in four years thanks to the brave men and women of the NYPD, the tireless work of community violence interrupters, and our administration’s pro-safety policies."
Despite the peaceful transfer of power, Adams had publicly endorsed Mamdani's political rival, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent.
